Core Faculty
Danielle Charron, MC, RPsych
Clinical Director, Department of Psychotherapy and Spirituality
Faculty Lecturer of Applied Counselling Psychotherapy
Email:
Danielle Charron is a Registered Psychologist in good standing with the College of Alberta Psychologists. With a rich and diverse background, Danielle's professional journey has seen her provide quality clinical services across various settings and levels of care. In the public sector, Danielle has managed groups, led a multidisciplinary team, and fostered community partnerships to enhance client outcomes. In private practice, she has spent several years offering compassionate care to children, teens, and adults. Driven by her philosophy of life-long learning, Danielle’s approach to adult education is grounded in openness, collaboration, curiosity, reflection, and humility. In the role of Clinical Director and Faculty Lecturer, she is excited by the opportunity to support the growth of the next generation of psychotherapists. Danielle’s dedication to wellness extends beyond her profession, as she finds joy in adventure, creativity, and fostering personal well-being through activities like reading, yoga, and her artistic pursuits.
Rev. Sheryl Johnson, PhD, MDiv, MPS
DMin Chair, Department of Theology
Professor of Theology
Email: sheryl.johnson@ualberta.ca
Sheryl Johnson is a settler of European heritage, born on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Métis, and Oji-Cree Nations, Treaty 1 territory, in what is colonially known as Winnipeg, Canada. Her scholarship focuses on the intersection of justice-rooted Christian ethics and the practices of mainline Protestant churches, particularly in the area of finance. She holds a PhD in Theology and Ethics from Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California and both a Master of Divinity and Master of Pastoral Studies from Emmanuel College, University of Toronto. Ordained in the United Church of Canada, she presently serves part-time in ministry at Congregational Church of San Mateo, affiliated with the United Church of Christ located on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone people in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sheryl has taught courses on a wide range of topics including climate justice, pastoral care, ethics, and women’s studies in religion. In addition to teaching and ministry, she also served many ecumenical and justice-rooted organizations such as KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives and the Student Christian Movement. Sheryl is passionate about the intersection of theology and practice and helping people and communities to more deeply live out their values for the sake of flourishing and abundant life.
Kathy Marshall-Spate, DMin (cand)
AC-SPE Program Coordinator
Email: spate@ualberta.ca
Kathy Marshall-Spate is presently in a Provincial role as a Senior Practice Consultant, Spiritual Care with Allied Health Professional Practice and Education and Certified Supervisor-Educator. Kathy has worked in the field of spiritual care in several community settings, Long Term Care and Acute Care for the past 18 years. Kathy is working on a Doctor of Ministry, Specialized Ministry, with a focus on the felt experience of the practice of student competency assessment during clinical psychospiritual education. When not available in the classroom/hospital you can find her in the mountains hiking or on a lake in her kayak.
Marie Muggeridge, MPS-AT, BFA, CCC, RCAT
Co-Chair (Art Therapy), Department of Psychotherapy and Spirituality
Faculty Lecturer of Art Therapy
Email: muggerid@ualberta.ca
Marie Muggeridge is a Registered Canadian Art Therapist (RCAT), Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) and is eligible to be registered with Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta (ACTA). Marie identifies as an educator, consultant, advocate and artist. She is a proud alumna of St. Stephen’s College, where her interest in art and spirituality collided. Marie’s thesis work, Empowerment Through Altered Books, brought new understanding of the deep connection between Spirit and her artmaking. Her clinical work includes community-based programs (Art Hives), consultation for the disability sector, and tertiary level art therapy for children and adolescents. Community is key to Marie’s relational approach to her personal and professional life. Marie’s areas of interest include holistic approaches for people with disabilities, lifelong learning, altered books, and healing trauma through the nervous system.
Olga Perju, MA, RP, CCC-S, RCAT (she/her)
Clinical Director
Faculty Lecturer of Applied Counselling Psychotherapy
Email: perju@ualberta.ca
Olga Perju is a Registered Canadian Art Therapist, Registered Psychotherapist (Ontario) and Canadian Certified Counsellor - Supervisor. She knows firsthand that art making can have meaningful, positive impacts on individuals and communities. Since joining St. Stephen's in June 2020, Olga has established community partnerships between the College and the Art Gallery of Alberta, she has pursued and secured grant funding to support Art Hive initiatives around the city, and she taught both the Practicum course and an Art Therapy Studio course on Art Hives and Social Action. Olga also works in private practice at Sparrow Creative Counselling Centre where she works with children, youth and communities. When she isn't making art or teaching, you can find Olga playing outside, riding her bike, or weaving creative networks with other arts practitioners.
Lorraine Smith-MacDonald, PhD, MDiv, MA, CCC
Co-Chair, Department of Psychotherapy and Spirituality
Professor of Integrative Counselling Psychotherapy
Email: smithmac@ualberta.ca
Lorraine Smith-MacDonald is a researcher, teacher, and clinician. She has previously worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine in the Heroes in Mind Advocacy Research Consortium lab at the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on the intersectionality of the mental and spiritual domains of health and specializes in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and moral injury in military, veteran, first responder, and family populations. She holds a PhD from the University of Calgary, a Masters of Divinity (Honours) from the University of Toronto, and a Masters in Psychotherapy from Sir Wilfrid Laurier University. She also holds clinical designations with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association and the Association of Counseling Therapy in Alberta and works as a therapist and chaplain.
Frederick S. Tappenden, PhD, MA (he/him/his)
Principal and Dean
Professor of Scriptures and Sacred Stories
Email: frederick.tappenden@ualberta.ca
Website: fredericktappenden.com
Frederick S. Tappenden is Principal and Dean, and Professor of Scriptures and Sacred Stories, at St. Stephen's College. His scholarly work focuses on issues of embodiment, cognition, social memory, and metaphor in religion, with a particular emphasis on ancient Christianity and ancient Judaism. Dr. Tappenden has published and taught widely in the fields of Biblical and Religious Studies. His 2016 book, Resurrection in Paul: Cognition, Metaphor, and Transformation (SBL Press), was awarded a 2017 Lautenschläger Award from the University of Heidelberg. Prior to coming to St. Stephen's he was a Faculty Lecturer at McGill University. He has also taught and/or researched at the University of British Columbia, the Montreal School of Theology, The King's University, and Concordia University of Edmonton.